Hello

Chapter 6

"Hey pal." The intern. Percy turns his head from where he had concentrated on climbing his little island - the thing isn't exactly making it easy, but that sure doesn't stop Percy from trying. With a sigh, Percy lets it go now and approaches the platform instead. Since Will's accident, Percy and the intern got used to each other more and more to the point that the guy isn't actually scared of Percy anymore. He wouldn't go as far as saying they liked it each other a lot, but maybe they were getting there.

"Don't look so disappointed. I know you like Will better than me, but he can't come see you until later." With that, the intern empties Percy's breakfast into the tank. It's not just fish this time, Percy spots a few clams as well and he can't hide his smile. Technically, Percy hasn't even told the intern he likes those, but of course the guy had seen Percy's excitement when he brought him some last week.

Things are changing, and Percy knows it has to do with the woman that Will brought in two weeks ago. Even though neither Jason or Will talk to him about it, Percy knows something is up, he isn't stupid after all. He'll get them to tell him too, he just isn't sure yet how.

Most days now, the intern is in charge of his food. Will still comes by at least every second day, always with another apology waiting on why he's not around as much anymore, but Percy misses the time when he had Will's undivided attention. It's not like he minds the intern very much, or like he thinks Will doesn't have anything better to do. Percy simply misses the time when it would be only Will who took care of him and only him who Will had to care about.

"You miss him, don't you?" The intern looks sympathetic enough, so Percy lets his head drop a little and stops trying to hide his pout. It get's him a somewhat amused smile in return and a hesitant pat on the head. Being a little weary about anyone but Will (and maybe Jason) touching him, Percy backs away from the platform, but he doesn't glare like the last time this has happened. The guy sighs like he hasn't expected anything else. "He's missing you too, if that makes it easier. Literally anything he ever talks about is the -"

Behind him, the door opens and the intern looks like he's been caught red-handed. He pales, then blushes, before he smiles awkwardly up at Will standing in the door. Percy feels his spirits raise immediately, approaching the platform again after all and splashing up water in excitement behind him. With a quick wave to Percy, the intern ducks past Will out of the door and into the hallway behind, probably embarrassed about having been caught talking about Will with Percy.

Percy cocks his head to the side like he's trying to say 'What was that about?' when he looks up at Will who standing in the doorway with a bright smile.

"Did he tell you all my secrets?" Will cooes when he crouches down, waiting for Percy to come up to him as the door falls shut again. Shaking his head, Percy pushes himself out of the water and pulls himself up enough to rest both arms on Will's knees, not even thinking about backing away when Will pets his hair. "Good. I want it to be a surprise. J-... Doctor Grace and I have been working really hard last few weeks to get things started."

There it is again. Doctor Grace. Percy still has no idea who that guy is supposed to be, but by how often Will is talking about him, Percy can only guess he is important. He's not yet sure he's going to like the doctor, or going to give him much of a chance if he's just as likable as the woman Will brought here before.

"Don't give me that look, I can promise you'll like him." Will grins like there's more to it he doesn't want to tell and Percy makes sure to let him see how annoyed he is by the secrets. Against Percy's hopes, Will doesn't budge, just shakes his head and laughs quietly. "Soon. We're gonna tell you everything. It'll be worth the waiting, I promise."

On Monday morning, Percy wakes up to strange changes around his tank. There were no visitors yesterday, the aquarium stays closed on Sundays, and they'd left the hall outside Percy's tank dark. He could hear the clutter of workers all through the night though, which means he didn't get a whole lot of sleep until they left in the early hours of the morning.